Lab workers' suspension 'intimidation', union says

A blood donation collected by the NZBS. Photo / Bradley Ambrose

The suspension of 15 striking laboratory workers in the North Island this morning was an attempt to intimidate them, their union says.

The New Zealand Blood Service (NZBS) today suspended seven workers in Auckland and Palmerston North, while the Counties Manukau District Health Board (DHB) suspended eight from Middlemore Hospital in south Auckland.

Medical laboratory workers have been involved in industrial action for almost 12 weeks after rejecting two 1 per cent offers, which they say is not enough to keep up with rising prices.

"The lab workers are sticking together in the face of the onslaught by the DHBs. This a profession that is 75 per cent women, so the DHBs are trying to intimidate these lab workers," Medical Laboratory Workers Union secretary Bryan Raill said today.

"Imagine what it's like to come to work, you are taking industrial action and in the morning, someone from the management team sweeps in and hands you a suspension notice. It's very, very intimidating."

NZBS chief executive Fiona Ritsma said the suspensions were necessary to provide operational certainty and the delivery of a safe and reliable service to patients.

Workers have taken partial withdrawals from labs, affecting normal role and responsibilities, and it had been escalating in recent weeks, NZBS said.

"We must be responsible for how we spend public funds, and it is unreasonable to continue paying a full wage to employees who are not carrying out the work they are being paid to do."

NZBS has six blood banks in DHBs, and four other laboratories.

Mr Raill said it was disappointing NZBS suspended workers as it had maintained a good relationship with its staff.

Medical laboratory workers were taking action to ensure services were maintained, the union said.

The average age of medical laboratory scientists was 52 and rising and those who left or retired were not being replaced.

The union said 72 per cent of graduates left the profession within 10 years and despite having a four-year degree, they were paid less than many with a three-year qualification.

In early August, Auckland, Counties Manukau and Waitemata DHBs announced a move to suspend striking lab workers while industrial action continued.

Earlier this month, the Northland DHB suspended four workers, and said more suspensions may follow.

- NZPA